TEHRAN (FNA)- The crisis in Syria was orchestrated by the US to weaken and destroy the Arab country, said Syrian President Bashar Assad’s media adviser Bouthaina Shaaban.

“Right from the beginning of this crisis, I never truly felt that the issue was about President Assad. It was about the weakening and destruction of Syria. There has been so much destruction – of hospitals, schools, factories, government institutions, you name it. Americans take their battles against leaders and presidents, but only as a pretext to destroy countries," Dr. Shaaban said in an interview with The Independent.

"Saddam was not the real target, it was Iraq. And it’s the same for Libya now, America told everyone it was about Gaddafi. The real issue is about weakening the Arab armies, whoever they are. When the Americans invaded Iraq, what was the first thing they did? They dissolved the Iraqi army," the presidential political and media advisor further said.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against both the army and civilians.

The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.

As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government has boosted its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Renowned Iranian stem cell scientist Professor Massoud Soleimani who has been jailed by the FBI without trial for nearly one year has likely been imprisoned for rejecting cooperation in a highly important research project for the US several years ago, and is under pressure to cooperate with the United States, his brother said Saturday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Some Dutch police centers, especially those located in the Hague, use excessive force against immigrants, according to a report published Friday by Dutch public broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS).

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's First Counsellor to the United Nations Farhad Mamdouhi said unilateral sanctions, use of force and coercion and disrespect for the international law are seriously threatening regional and global peace.

TEHRAN (FNA)- At least five people have been killed and some 3,500 evacuated in two days of torrential rains in Southeast Spain, with many roads, railways and an airport closed on Friday and emergency services rescuing people stuck in flooded highway tunnels.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Spokesman of Iran's Guardian Council vetting body Abbas Ali Kadkhodayee lashed out at the Canadian government for practicing "state-sponsored economic terrorism" against Tehran by selling the country's assets.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Saturday that the ultimate goal of the “maximum pressure" campaign of US President Donald Trump was to make the government in Tehran fall, adding that in short term Washington is after ruining the economy of the Islamic Republic.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Bolivian Ambassador to Tehran Romina Guadalupe Pérez Ramos said on Saturday that her country is strongly opposed to the United States' unilateral sanctions against Iran, underlining that La Paz holds Washington responsible for violating international law with its hostile measures against the Islamic republic.

TEHRAN (FNA)- India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni, reiterated that New Delhi is determined to further expand defense and military cooperation with Tehran.